Tool lift mechanism



June 13, 1944. I c. H. WHITE TOOL LIFT MECHANISM Original Filed, July 8, 1940' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .INVENTOR: CHARLES H. WHIYTE W ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 13, 1944 v TOOL LIFT MECHANISM Charles H. White; Moline, I113, assignorto Deere.

& Company, Moline, 111., acorporation of-Illi nois Original application July 8, 1940, Serial No.

344,310. Divided and this application November 30, 1942, Serial No. 467,449.;

11 Claims.

This application isa division of my co-pending' application, Serial No. 344,310, filed July 8, 1940, for Planters, now U. S. Patent No. 2,322,332, issued June 22, 1943.

The present invention relates generally to agricultural machines and is more particularly concerned with a planting implement of the so-called integral type. wherein the tractor serves'as the supporting frame for the furrow" pener nd sso i p t Th bj ct nd en r na r f th r sen invention" is the provision of an; agricultural machine especially adapted to be connected to a r tor an mb d a Plan f e in l type h ng eneral y: vertica shiftable t l beams. with meansfor raising and loweringeach tool beam with which is associated'spring yielding means permitting the depth adjusting part to be moved into the desired position andstressing the spring means so that the latter acts when the implement moves forwardly to force thetool or tools down into the position determined by the depth adjusting part.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed descriptionof the preferred structural embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which the preferred structural embodiment has been illustrated.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a 'sideview of an agricultural ma-. chine in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated;

Figure 2 is a sectional view showing the connectionsbetween the hand lever and the sector which raises and lowers the tool beam;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the'position of the parts when the hand lever has been moved into an operating position with the machine stationary and the associated' ground working'tool not yet in itsoperating position; and

Figure 4 is a section taken generally along the line 4-4 of Figure 3, showing the support of the depth adjusting lever on the'sector shaft operating arm.

Referring now to the drawings, more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the present invention is shown as incorporated in an agricultural machine which includes a tractor serving as supporting frame means and a tool carrying implement 2 with which planting and fertilizing units 3and 4, preferably supported on the tractor I, are operatively associated.

The'tractor: is of more or less conventional construction, embodying a frame 6 supported at its=forward end on front steering wheels and, at its rear end, connected to or including a rear axle housing whichis provided with laterally outwardly extending axlehousing sections 9 (Figure 1). Each rear axle section 9 has suitable means by which the units 3 and 4: are connected thereto and supported thereby. Axle shafts l6 are journaled in the axlehousing extensions 9 and are arranged to be driven by the tractor motor I8 in the usual way.

Theframe of the implement 2 is indicated in its entirety by the-reference numeral and includes a transversely disposed cross bar 2|, which is preferably of flat stock and having a length such as when the cross bar 2| is disposed transversely of the tractor it extendslaterally outwardly beyond the body of the tractor, as indicated at 23 and 24. The cross bar 2| is fixed to the sides of the tractor frame by a pair of clips 25 formed so that one end of each clip may be bolted, as at 2|, to a bracket on the tractor and the other end maybe bolted, as at 29, to the cross bar.

A pair of draft frames 3| are connected between the ends 23 and 24 of the cross bar 2| and the rear axle housing extensions 9. Each draft frame includes a bar (Figure 1) which at its forward end is bent laterally inwardly and at its rear end is bent, as at 31 (Figure 4), laterally inwardly so as to extend along the associated rear axle housing extension. Each.

frame also includes a second strap member 4| (Figure 2) which at its forward end is bent, as at 42, and at its extend laterally outwardly alongside the inwardly bent portion of the frame section 31 of the bar 35. The bars 35 and 4|, when connected together as described, form a draft frame, and each draft frame forms a rigid connection between the laterally outer end of the cross bar 2| and the rear axle housing.

Welded or otherwise fixedto the draft frame member 35 is an inverted U-shaped bracket 48 (Figure l), and a companion inverted U-shaped bracket 49 (Figure 2 is secured as by welding or otherwise to the draft frame member 4|. The upper portions of the brackets 48 and 49 are maintained in the desired laterally spaced relationby a spacing bolt 5|. This bolt is provided with a shoulder 52 and an adjacent threaded end which extends through an aperture in the rear end 43 is bent so as to bracket 49 and receives a nut by which the bracket 49 may be clamped firmly against the shoulder 52. At its other end the spacing bolt 5| is threaded and extends through an aperture in the outer bracket 48. The outer threaded end of the spacing bolt 5| receives a pair of lock nuts, represented by the nut 53 in Figure 1, one on each side of the bracket 48, whereby the spacing between the brackets 48 and 49 may be adjusted or fixed as desired. The draft frames 3| are substantially identical, except that certain parts may be right-hand and other parts may be left-hand, and hence the description of one will suffice. able guiding and adjusting mechanism for the associated tools which will be described below.

35 and M of each unit are apertured to receive the rounded end portions IOI and I02 (Figure 4) of a shaft I03, the major portion of which is square in cross section. The rounded or cylindrical portions MI and I02 project slightly beyond the adjacent surfaces of the draft frame members so that when the nuts I04 are tightened to secure the shaft I03 against lateral displacement, the shaft is nevertheless free to rotate in its bearing support. The cylindrical section [M is of greater axial extent than the companion cylindrical portion I02 so as to receive the inner apertured end of a hand lever I01. The lever I01 Each draft frame includes suit-.-

The implement frame which includes the cross bar 2| and two draft frames 3|, forms astrong and sturdy support for a variety of tools which may be carried thereby. In order to best illustrate the principles of the present in vention, I have shown'in thedrawings a sweep type cotton and l corn planter, in which the ground working tools are sweeps which are mounted on or carried by generally vertically reciprocable tool beams or shanks connected, respectively, with the draft frames 3|, described above, but it will be understood that my invention is not limited totools or implements of the sweep type.

At each side of the tractor I a ground working tool, such as a sweep 60,'is fastened by a bolt 6! or other suitable means to a pair of'conventional friction trip plates 62 pivoted to the lower end of a verticallyreciprocable tool -shankortool beam 63 and held in place'by a clamping bolt I81. As best shown in Figure 2, each tool beam 63 includes a pair of laterally spaced apart bars 64 and 65 disposed on opposite sides of an intermediate bar 66. Heavy rivets 61.," or any other suitable'means, may be utilized for fixing the bars 64, 65 and 66 together. It will be noted that the inner bar 66' is more narrow than the outer bars 64 and 65 so that each vertically reciprocable tool beam presents forwardly and rearwardly directed edges, as indicated at 1! and I2, respectively, with a groove or channel therebetween, as indicated at I3 and '14. For guiding each tool beam in its generally vertical movements, each draft frame 3| and 32 carries a pair of forward rollers 16. Each. roller 16 includes a central flange 18 and opposite which are bearing shoulders I9 which receive the forward edges 1| of the associated tool beam, as best shown in Figure 2. Each roller 16 is journaled for rotation on an adjusting shaft 82 and is held in position thereon by a pair of collars 83. The collars are held against rotation by pins 84 disposed in suitable openings 85111 the shaft 82. The flange 18 .on each of the two rollers associated with each tool beam seat far enough in the channel or groove 13 of the associated tool beam so that the rollers serve to prevent the tool beam from shifting laterally relative to the associated draft frame. The lateral position of the-tool beam may be varied by removing the pins 84 and shifting the rollers and collars to a new position, reinserting the pins 84 in other holes in the shafts 82. Each tool beam is held up against the associated rollers 16 by means which will be described below.

Coming now to the features with which, this invention is more particularly concerned, eachof the draft frames 3| carries means for raising and lowering the associated tool beam 63, According to the present invention, the opposite side bars to the lever. I01.

carries the usual detent latch which cooperates with a sector I08 that is fixed to the inner draft frame member 4| and to the inner guide bracket 49.

A brace I09 is fixed at its upper end, as by welding or the like, to the lever I01 above the sector I08 and is formed so as to extend laterally outwardly therefrom, as indicated at IIO,'and

then downwardly alongside the lower end of the lever I01, generally in parallelism therewith, as indicated at II2. This portionterminates in an apertured section II 3 which embraces the hub portion I I4 of an arm I I6, preferably in the form of a casting which is mounted on and secured to the square portion of the shaft I03 so as to form a part thereof. The arm II6 has an abutment extension II1 which lies alongside the lower end of the hand lever I 01 and is movable relative thereto between stops. which are defined by abracket II 9 provided with. downturned ends I20 and IZI. Preferably, the bracket H9 is welded The arm H6 also includes a lug I23 disposed at an angle to the extension H1 and at its outer end receives the lower end of a spring I24, theupper end of which is adjustably connected, as by a bolt I25, to the lateral section IIO of the brace I09. The effect of the spring I24 isto hold the arm H6 and hand lever I01 against relative movement, with the extension II! of the arm I I6 normally against the stop I20. Normally, therefore, when the hand lever I01 is moved forwardly, or in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2, the spring tension causes the shaft I03 to move through the same angular distance. When the lever I 01 is moved in a clockwise direction, the stop I20 engages directly the arm section II1 so that this movement of the hand lever I01 occasions the same movement of the shaft I03. 7

The latter mentioned movement is made use of to raise the associated tool bar and the counterclockwise movement of the hand lever I 01 and shaft I03 is made use of to lower the tool beam. To this end, a sector casting I21 provided with a square hub I28, is mounted on and clamped firmly to the square shaft I03, and is provided with a set of teeth I29 which are adapted to mesh with teeth I30 formed in the adjacent portion of the- 1 and 2, it will be seen that the sector I21. is dis posed substantially directly rearwardly of the lower guide roller 16. The spacing bolt 5| serves to hold the upper end of the tool bar against the upper roller 16 against any tendency for theupper end of the tool beam to move away.

, Preferably, the parts are so arranged thatthe 60 down into the ground, providing the outfit is moving or if the ground is soft enough'to permit the tool to be forced directly downwardly. If,

however, this isnot the case, moving, the hand lever Hi1 forwardly-from theposition shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 3 serves only to stretch the spring i241 However, the bias imparted tothespring is exerted continuously against the associatedtool-beam, with theresult that when the outfit does startv up. or

when the stretch or hard ground ispassed, the tool 5t will be immediately. forced into the ground without further attention on the part of theoperator. Thus, the springs I24 serve the very usefill-purpose of cushioning the tool beams and providing a yielding means for forcing the tools into the ground and permittingthem momentarily to rise if it should occur that hard ground is encountered. If there were direct connections between the tool beams and the lifting, mechanism, and if a stretch of hard ground or some obstruction to the proper penetration of the tools were encountered, it is not unlikely that some parts might be broken if a yielding cushioning mechanism, such as I have shown and described, is not employed. Thus, in the present implement, the em; l E24 serve. to protect the teeth I29 and 53% against breakage. Also, the implement may be adjusted forany depth of operation without requiring that the tools be actually forced that far into the ground.

Theimplernent described above is particularly adapted fer sweep planters Accordingly, I prefer to mount onthe tractor planting and fertilizing means arranged to deposit seed and fertilizer, and preferably such planting and fertilizing 10183411512153 be constructed along the lines of the planting and fertilizing means shown in my prior Patent No. 2,210,994, dated August 13, 1940, to which reference may be had if necessary. of the tractor includes a seed hopper i323 supported on a base or other suitable means, as indicated at 136. he base or support I38 is provided witha pair of arms l3! connected with or forming a part of a gear case I38 which is bolted on the upper laterally inturned ends of a pair of arms Ml which form a part of a bracket secured to the tractor attaching lugs, as suggested insaid prior patent. The planter unit base 136 includes seed selecting and feeding mechanism driven by a chain MB from a sprocket h'i'i that is detachably mounted on the adjacent axle shaft it (Figure 1) A pair of plates l5i are fixed at their forward ends to the lower portion of each of the tool beams 63 and extend rearwardly therefrom, forming a bracket to which a planter furrow opener I52 is connected. The furrow opener I52 carries a yoke I53 extending rearwardly therefrom to which the lower end of a seed tube i54 is connected, as best shown in Figure l, the upper end of the seed tube being connected to a funnel E55 which receives seed from the associated hopper I35 under the control of the seed selecting mechanism associated therewith. A covering shovel frame I58 is pivoted, as at I59, to the lower portion of each of the tool beams 63 and Briefly, the planting unit at each sidecomprises a pair of strap members l6! extending rearwardly along opposite sides of the seed tube and receiving a cross bar I63 to which the shanks of covering shovels 164 are fixed. A strap N is fixedat' its lower ends to the straps I61 and I32 and extends over the upper edge of the plates Hill. The yoke I serves as a stop limiting the downward swinging movement of the coveringframe 558 but permitting upward movementof the covering frame relative to the tool beam 63 and furrow opener l52'associated there with. Normall the covering shovel frame 58 floats when the associated tool beam is in its lowered ,oroperating position, but when the tool beamis raised, the covering shovel frame is also raised with it, due to the contact of the yoke I65 with the plates 15!.

The machine may be operated simply as a planter. with a planting unit .3 at each side thereof, as described above, but frequently the farmer will desire to distribute fertilizer at the same time that he plants, and to this end I provide a fer tilizer attachment 5 for each of the planting attachments 3, as-suggestedin my prior patent above. Briefly, each fertilizing unit inch l. frame or case i'liwhich is, in turn, supported a fertilizer hopper lit supported on a on the gear housing section l38of the planting unit and on a'brace "which is bolted at its upper end to the fertilizer hopperbottom ill and at its lower end to the outer member 35 of the associated draft frame, as indicated'at I13. The fertilizer distributing mechanism is driven from the seeding mechanism by a chain lid and associated parts, along the lines of the mechanism shown in said prior patent, A fertilizer feed tube I leads-downwardly from the fertilizer. hopper base and connects-at its lowerend to a fertilizer boot El? (Figure l) in the form of a collar fastened ts fertilizer opener 81.

The operation of this machine is believed to be apparent from the abovedescription.

Assuming that the-machine is standing at the. beginning of the rows-to be planted, the operator swings both of the hand levers l0! forwardly, stressing the cushioning springs l24 and thereby exerting a bias tending to force both of the sweeps into-the ground as soon as the outfit starts up. As will be readily understood, sweep planters are commonly employed where the field has been previously bedded so that at planting time the tools sweep off the tops of the beds and the planting is done on the fiat sections immediately behind the sweeps. sometimes get quite hard, in which case the springs I24 may yield in order to permit the sweeps momentarily to rise above such obstruc- These ridges or beds tions, but as soon as softer soil is encountered the springs immediately force the sweeps back to their proper operating level. The planter furrow openers I52 open small furrows in the swept off lands and the seed is deposited therein by the seed selecting mechanism. associated with each of the planting units 2. At the same time, the fertilizer is distributed to one side of and aboilnii3 lthe seed level by the fertilizer furrow openers While I have shown and. describedabove the referred structure in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated, it is to be understood that my inventionisnot to be limited to the particular details shown and described'above, but that, in fact, widely difierent means may beemployedrin the practice of the broader aspects of my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An agricultural machine comprising means serving as a supporting frame, a ground working tool carried thereby, a member for raising and lowering said tool, means serving as a pair of stops on said member, a second member movable relative to said first member, and resilient means interconnecting said members whereby said first member may be actuated by said second member through said spring means to lower said tool. 2. In an agricultural machine, means serving as a frame, a tool movable with respect to said frame means, a shaft mounted for rocking movement in said frame, a member fixed to said shaft and operatively connected to raise and lower said tool, an abutment member fixed to said shaft ad- J'acent one end thereof, an operating lever mounted for movement relative to said abutment member, spring means acting between said lever and said abutment member whereby movement of said lever in one direction acts through said abutment member and said shaft for lowering said tool, and stop means on said lever cooperating with said abutment member for limiting the movement of the latter and said shaft relative to said lever whereby the setting of the latter determines the normal operating depth of the tool, movement of said lever to carry said stop away from said abutment member acting through said spring to bias said tool for movement into an operating position.

3. In an agricultural implement, a movable tool shank, frame means with respect to which said shank is generally vertically movable, a

ground working sweep connected to the lower end of said shank, a member formoving said sweep into lowered position, means serving as a pair of stops on said member, .a second member connected with said sweep and movable relative to said first member, said pair of stops cooperating with said second member for limiting relative movement between said members, and resilient means interconnecting said members whereby said first member may be moved into a lowered position while said sweep remains above its corresponding lowered position but is biased to move into its lowered position by said resilient means.

4. In an agricultural implement, a movable tool shank, frame means with respect to 'which said shank is generally vertically movable, a sector pivoted on said frame means and engageable with said shank to raise and lower the latter, a member movably connected with said frame for swinging said sector, a second member movable relative .to said first member, means serving as a pair of stops on said second member cooperating with said first member for limiting relative movement between said members, and resilient means interconnecting said members whereby said first member may be actuated by said second member through said spring means to lower said tool by swinging said sector.

5. An agricultural implement comprising a support, a tool controlling rockshaft pivoted thereon, sections swingable on said rockshaft, an arm fixed to said rockshaft between said sections, stop means carried by said lever between said lever sections and having two spaced abutment portions engageable with a part of said arm for limiting the movement of said lever relative to said arm in both directions, and spring means connecting said arm and lever.

a hand lever having two spaced apart 6. An agricultural implement comprising a draft frame having spaced apart members, a rockshaft journaled on said members and including a polygonal section, a tool-controlling member connected with said polygonal section, an arm having a hub portion fixed to said section, a hand lever swingably connected with said hub section, and spring means connecting said I arm and lever.

'7. An agricultural implement comprising a draft frame having spaced apart apertured members, a rockshaft having cylindrical ends journaled in the apertures of said members and a central polygonal section, a tool-controlling member connected with said polygonal section, an arm having a hub portion fixed to said section, a hand lever having one part journaled on said hub and the other part journaled on one of the cylindrical ends of said rockshaft, said parts embracing said arm, and spring means connecting said arm and lever.

8. In an agricultural implement having a part to be moved, a rockshaft, means connecting the rockshaft with said part, an arm on the rockshaft having two extensions, a lever rockably mounted on said'rockslraft, means including a pair of spaced apart abutments carried by said lever and disposed on opposite sides of one of said arm extensions, and spring means connecting the other arm extension with said lever.

9. In an agricultural implement having a part to be moved, a rockshaft, means connecting the rockshaft with said part, an arm on the rockshaft, a lever rockably mounted on said rockshaft, spring means connecting said arm and spring means whereby the latter transmits a moving force from said lever to said rockshaft, and stop means acting between said arm and lever after the spring means has been deflected a given amount for transmitting movement to said rockshaft from said lever independently of said spring means.

10. In an agricultural implement, a movable tool shank, frame means with respect to which said shank is generally vertically movable, a ground working sweep connected to the lower end of said shank, a member for moving said sweep into lowered position, a second member connected with said sweep and movable relative to said first member, resilient means interconnect-, ing said members whereby said first member may b moved into a lowered position while said sweep remains above its corresponding lowered position but is biased to move into its lowered position by said resilient means, and stop means limitingthe relative movement between said members in the direction that stresses said resilient means whereby, after a given amount of relative movement between said members has occurred, movement of said first member causes positive displacement of said second member.

11. In an agricultural implement, a movable tool shank, frame means with respect to which said shank is generally vertically movable, a sector pivoted on said frame means and engageable with said shank to raise and lower the latter, a member movably connected with said frame for swinging said sector, a second member movable relative to said first member, and resilient means interconnecting said members whereby said first member may be actuated by said second member through said spring means to lower said tool by swinging said sector.

CHARLES H. WHITE. 

